Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 30: The belief that IVF always results in a baby is incorrect. IVF success depends largely on the woman’s age and overall health. Women under 35 have a per-cycle success rate of about 60–65%, which may increase to 80–85% over multiple cycles if conditions are favourable. However, for women above 40, the success rate drops significantly, sometimes to as low as 5–10%.

Another myth is that IVF is only for older women or the rich. In reality, it’s often used even by younger women facing conditions like blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, or severe male infertility. IVF is a medical treatment based on specific fertility challenges, not age or financial status.

It is also wrong to assume IVF involves only women. In many cases, male infertility is the root issue. When sperm count is extremely low or absent, IVF becomes essential, sometimes requiring surgical sperm retrieval from the testes.

Some believe IVF is unsafe for the mother. However, when done under expert medical supervision and tailored protocols, it is generally safe. Patients are screened for risks, and hormone treatments are customised, especially in cases like a history of breast cancer.

There is also a notion that IVF babies are less healthy. While there is a slight 1–2% higher risk of chromosomal issues, advanced prenatal tests help detect most problems early with up to 99% accuracy. IVF pregnancies are usually closely monitored to ensure the health of both mother and child.

Finally, IVF is not the last option. Even if IVF fails, advanced procedures like ICSI and new technologies such as AI-assisted embryo selection offer hope. Research into treatments like platelet-rich plasma and stem cells is also ongoing, aiming to improve outcomes in complex fertility cases.